Step Finishing Up

After the splining has been seated firmly all around, and the end have been neatly cut at an angle, you must trim away the ends of the webbing sticking up along the outside of the spline. The easiest way is to use a very sharp 1-inch wood chisel. Place the chisel against the side of the spline groove just at the point where the webbing emerges. Tap it sharply to cut through the webbing. You can also cut the excess canc away with a very sharp knife.

Allow the new caning to dry overnight before using it. It can be left natural or given a coat of clear shellac, lacquer or varnish for protection against moisture.

You should miter the end ot the spline to make a good fit Here you see the end trimmed at a slight angle The other end will be trimmed to match this one when you cut it after installing the spline

Place the spline in the groove with the narrow side down, then use a wooden block (one of the hardwood wedges serves here) and a hammer to drive the spline into the groove until it is level with the top edge of the groove

Work your way completely around Ihe seat, driving the spline into the groove At the back, use a clipper to cut the spline off at an angle to match the angle you cut on the other end. Fit the mitered spline ends over"§ach other in a neat fit to hide the junction point.

Using a very sharp 1-inch wood chisel go around the seat trimming off the excess webbing. Insert the chisel into the groove, cutting down at an angle so the cane is trimmed off down in the groove. This way, the cut ends will be invisible

Here is the finished seat Allow the cane to dry overnight before putting the chair to use

Here is the finished seat Allow the cane to dry overnight before putting the chair to use

THIS book is one of the series of Handbooks on industrial subjects being published by the Popular Mechanics Company. Like Popular Mechanics Magazine, and like the other books in this series, it is written so you can understand it. The purpose of Popular Mechanics Handbooks is to supply a growing demand for high-class, up-to-date and accurate text-books, suitable for home study as well as for class use, on all mechanical subjects. The textand illustrations, in each instance, have been prepared expressly for this series by well known experts, and revised by the editor of Popular Mechanics.